The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has once more taken former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai into custody following court proceedings in Kaduna.
This action followed a sitting at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday, March 31, where his case was adjourned until Wednesday, April 1.
On the same day, El-Rufai was also brought before the Kaduna State High Court to face new and expanded criminal charges filed by the ICPC.
At the state court, he was arraigned alongside a co-defendant on a 10-count charge involving alleged fraud, conspiracy, abuse of office, and criminal breach of trust. Among the accusations is a claim that he persuaded the Kaduna State Government to approve approximately N11 billion for a light rail project that was never carried out.
Earlier reports indicated that El-Rufai is also standing trial at the Federal High Court with a co-defendant over allegations related to corruption, abuse of office, and money laundering.
The charges at the Federal High Court include claims that he unlawfully collected about N579 million as severance allowance, allegedly far above what was approved, as well as engaging in multiple foreign currency transactions suspected to be proceeds of illicit activities.
The ICPC further alleged that the former governor received $320,800 through various transactions between 2017 and 2023, in addition to other foreign currency payments from individuals still at large. Prosecutors also accused him of working with others to conceal the source of the funds, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The court had previously fixed March 24 to rule on his bail application but later shifted the decision to March 31 after hearing arguments from both parties. While the defence sought bail on constitutional grounds, the prosecution opposed the request, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the possibility of interference with investigations.
Following the adjournment, El-Rufai had earlier been granted temporary release by the ICPC on Friday, March 27, to attend his mother’s burial.
After Tuesday’s proceedings at the Federal High Court, ICPC spokesperson Okor Odey confirmed that the former governor had been returned to custody.
Meanwhile, proceedings at the Kaduna State High Court were unable to continue as planned due to the absence of the second defendant, Amadu Sule (Leda), which stalled the arraignment.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to April 10, 2026, for further hearing.
According to the charge sheet marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, the defendants are accused of offences allegedly committed between 2015 and 2025, spanning El-Rufai’s time in office and afterward.
Prosecutors alleged that in December 2016, while serving as governor, El-Rufai induced the Kaduna State Government to approve an alleged N11 billion payment to Indokaduna MRTS JV Nigeria Limited for a light rail project that was never executed.
He was also accused of approving and receiving severance payments exceeding N289 million in 2020 and 2023, above his lawful entitlements, an act prosecutors described as abuse of office and corruption.
In a separate count, the prosecution alleged that between March and November 2022, El-Rufai and another individual still at large dishonestly diverted $1,085,066.38 from World Bank loan funds, allegedly breaching the terms of the loan agreement.
